My wife's cousin, a 42 year old non drinking, non smoking, no drugging, God lovin, lorry driving family man had an accident some months back which led to the death of another man.
The case has dragged on so long that he decided to put his affairs in order and plead guilty to whatever charge was made. It was a 50/50 chance of causing death by careless driving or by dangerous driving.
His reasoning? Through his actions, a man died.
Well they charged him with the more serious death by dangerous driving, an automatic jail term. He got 16 months. Could've been anything upto 25 years and no parole before 10. The dead man's family have told his legal team and the judge that they don't want the man to go to jail. That helped to reduce his sentence.
So my wife's beloved cousin now sits in a UK jail cell where he will soon be transferred to an open prison. With luck he'll be out in 10 months for good behaviour. I hope his Mum (who's dying of cancer) can either hang on or can go with speed and grace. I pray for my wife's beloved cousin that he can accept and endure and I believe he'll come out a better, stronger man. 16 months. But they didn't take his driving licence away. Odd huh?
His dignity and acceptance has been a lesson to me. He wouldn't know a 12 step programme if it kissed him. He's just one of those that listened at his Daddy's knee and remembered what he was taught.
__________________
It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you got. BB
That is really sad, and humbling. I am always in awe of people able to live as though they did have the 12 steps in their lives but do not. Tired tonight-tucking myself in early. Had occasion to practice-practice-practice these principles in one of my (business) affairs today. Exhausting, but I pulled it off and am quite pleased with my sober self.
